Parliament moves to impeach resigned judge after fire reveals burnt cash
A parliamentary committee has concluded that Judge Yashwant Varma possessed burnt currency found in his Delhi residence, clearing the way for impeachment despite his resignation.
In March, a blaze at the Delhi residence of High Court judge Yashwant Varma led firefighters to a cache of burnt currency, sparking an internal investigation and his reassignment to the Allahabad High Court. The collegium, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, formed a three-judge committee that implicated Varma and his family. A Lok Sabha motion signed by 146 members triggered a parliamentary inquiry chaired by Justice Aravind Kumar, which Varma later abandoned before resigning in April.
The committee’s August report accepted video evidence and testimonies, finding Varma guilty of possessing the notes and tampering with the scene. The findings now pave the way for the Centre to initiate impeachment in the upcoming winter session, despite Varma’s resignation, to set a precedent that resignation does not halt removal proceedings.
Why it matters
It tests whether a judge can avoid impeachment by resigning after Parliament starts removal proceedings.
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